Feature Archives

Every week AbeBooks publishes fascinating features about a huge variety of bookish subjects, including rare books and collecting, authors, publishers, and interesting characters in literature and notable anniversaries. Our lists are second to none in the book world and designed to inspire your next read or collectible purchase. Browse our feature archives below and you will discover unique content that will both entertain and inform.

Books Set in Paris

Paris has been host to romances, murder mysteries and dramas, but the biggest story of them all is always Paris itself. Explore our selection of novels, memoirs, and history books about the City of Love, Lights, and Literature.

Fabulous First Editions from the 1940s

From Le Petit Prince to Nineteen Eighty-Four, numerous landmark books were published during the 1940s. Our selection of first editions from this decade ranges from famous names to writers who have faded into obscurity.

Monochromatic Book Covers

A monochromatic colour scheme is black, white and all the variations of a single colour. You'd think using just one colour would limit the creativity of book designers, but it's actually inspired them to produce many memorable covers.

Sensational First Editions from the 1960s

The 1960s were politically and culturally explosive, and its books were no different. The '60s produced some of the most important works of modern literature, and we've gone back in time to gather the most collectible.

Fascinating First Editions from the 1950s

It was the decade that gave us Narnia, Holden Caulfield and 007. But this selection showcases other memorable books published in the 1950s. A little Dennis Wheatley, a slice of Muriel Spark and a dash of Wallace Stegner.

Vintage Annuals for Children

In the days before television, children were entertained and informed by annuals. The likes of W.E. Johns, E. Nesbit and P.G. Wodehouse all contributed stories to annuals over the years. Vintage annuals are now hunted down by book collectors.

A Literary Bucket List

From vintage pulp's voluptuous vixens and science fiction's cyborgs and the civilized gentry of Jane Austen's classics, the world of books is vast. We challenge you to explore the big, wide book world with our literary bucket list.

Obsession with the Obscure

We scoured the literary world in search of the odd and the obscure - from funny fiction to science fiction, from knitting manuals to alternative art. Take a look at these cult books and prepare to be changed.

50 Essential Historical Fiction Novels

Spanning over 200 years of historical fiction, we offer 50 novels that depict everything from political intrigue in ancient Rome to the grim realities of 20th century war. Time travel has never been easier.

The Best Fantasy Series

So many great fantasy series, so little time. From Hobbits to magi, knights to gunslingers, from wizarding worlds to complex societies of talking animals, this selection of some of the best fantasy series runs the gamut.

The Folio Society

Penguin's Science Fiction

We've compiled a selection of the Penguin science fiction series to show you, which range from the early 1960s (when Penguin began deviating from their traditional color-coded designs) all the way through to the 2000s.

The Best Horse Fiction

50 Essential Science Fiction Books

Create a list of 50 must-read science fiction books without infuriating the real experts? Well, we tried. These stories stretch from 1864 to 2011, but will teleport readers thousands of years into the future.

The History of Music Genres

The Tale of Beatrix Potter

Owning a Beatrix Potter collection is like having a slice of literary history on your bookshelf. Her stories shaped bedtime reading for many book collectors who now hunt down rare copies of Peter Rabbit.